Web-folding machine



NOV. 17, 1931. JENSEN-ET AL 1,832,556

WEB FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 12 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet l new? 22am/wem @y w @@Q/z,

Nov. 17, 1931.

L.. JENSEN ET AL v WEB FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 12. 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 17, 1931. E, JENSEN ET AL i 1,832,556

WEB FOLDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 12 1929 L. JENSEN ET AL WEB FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 12 Nov. 17, 1931.

1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 17, 1931. JENSEN ET AL 1,832,556

WEB FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 12. 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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` WEB FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 12 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Nov. 17, 1931. 1 JENSEN ET AL 1,832,556

WEB FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 12. 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES ATENT oFFlcE LOUIS JENSEN AND (A21-TABLES; WINT-ERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 UNITED ,V

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION F ILLINOIS WEB-FOLDING MACHINE Application filed July 12,

L chine for folding manifold duplicating strips.

Such strips may be provided, for example, by

printing forms on a web of paper as it passes through a printing machine, and then fold- J ing the web in zig-Zag fashion along longi-v tudinal lines. The strips may be left in connected condition, or may be severed, as desired. Such a multiple ply strip may be folded transversely in zig-zag fashion by means of a machine embodying the present invention. f

The primary object is to provide a machine which will operate with certainty to produce transverse folding of a continuous strip, or

, strips, thus producing a pile, or packet, in

which the strip is folded in zig-Zag fashion.

A. further object is to produce -a machine which will Vsatisfactorily fold a large number of duplicate strips and be capable of large output.

ln accordance with the present invention, two -or more opposed folder-plates are employed for effecting the folding of the strips. In a simple embodiment of the invention, two

folder-plates are employed for effecting folding, these plates being attached to actuating devices and being capable of rapid reciprocation. In a more complex embodiment, well adapted for folding a large number of plies, four folder-plates are shiftably mounted in a. reciprocating slide, and suitable mech' anism is provided for shifting the plates and effecting the folding operations.

lneach case, it is preferred to provide a web-feeding and -distributing device which co-acts with the folder-plates.

The invention is illustrated in preferred embodiments in the accompanying drawings, in whicl1- Fig. 1 is a broken side elevational view of a machine which is particularly adapted for folding a large number of plies; Fig. 2, a broken side elevational view, partly in section, showing the opposite side of the machine; Fig. 2a, a broken longitudinal sec-v 1929. serial no. 377,802.

tional view illustrating the manner in which i two of the folderfplates are normally cen tered in the guides with which the main frame is provided; Fig. 3, a rear end elevational view; Fig. 4, an enlarged broken plan sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 of VFig. 3; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken longitudinal vertical section taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 5a, a'broken rlongi# 'tudinal vertical section in which the thickness of the parts is exaggerated to facilitate an understanding of the folding operation; Fig. 6, a broken longitudinal vertical section taken as'indicated at line 6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a fragmentary transversesectional View talren as indicated at line 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a fragmentary sectional view taken as in` dicated at line 8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9, a broken longitudinal sectional view taken as indicated at line 9 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10, aI detail view of the conveyor-actuating means, the View being taken as indicated at line 10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11, a broken perspective view, diagrammatic in character, illustrating the manner in which the folder-plates are actuated; Fig. l2, a broken longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, the section being taken as indicated at'line 12 ofFig. 11; Fig. 13, a broken vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a simplified form, or modification; Fig. 14, a perspective viewpof one of the folder-plate lifting devices; and Fig. 15, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line of Fig. 13.

It may be stated preliminarily that in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-11, two of the folder-plates are centered normally in the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, the plates being provided at their lateral edges with notches which engage lugs carried by the fixed guide-rails in which the plate-shifting slide reciprocates. The action of the machine is such that when the slide is moved in one direction a third plate (at this time at the bottom of the pile) is withdrawn from beneath the pile, and a fourth plate is elevated and caused `to ride over the pile, thus sliding over the paper as it is distributed byk the distributing device. The lugs mentioned are short and are spaced from the upper and lower walls of the guides, so as to ali'ord room for the lou'er plate to be withdrawn and for the upper plate to be shifted into superposed position over the pile. It will be understood that the plates successively gravitate to the bottom of the guides and become disengaged from lixed lugs, thus permitting Withdrawal.

In the preferred construction illustrated in Figs. 1-11, A designates a main frame having a bed A and having a superstructure A2 equipped with guides, or supports, for the strips of paper; B, a paper-feeding and distributing de\.f'ice mounted on guiderods B mounted on the bed A; B2, actuating mechanism for the distributor B; C, a folder-plate actuator in the .form ot a slide Which moves in guides With which the bed A is provided, said actuator co-act-ing with a series of folder-plates 1, 2, 3 and it being observed that the lateral margins of the plates project east the slide and ovcrledges with which the guides in the bed A are provided; C, actuating means 'for the slide C; D, a main drive shaft equipped with a balance wheel D and with a sprocketuvheel D2 with which is connected a sprocket-chain D3 which may be actuated from any suitable source (not shown) E, a counter-shaft actuated from the shaft D by means of a pinion 5 and a gear 6; F and F, folder-plate litters actuated, respectively, by actuating devices F2 and F s; G, strip-supporting means adapted to temporarily support the strip after the folding operation, the means G being equipped with a actuating device G; and H, a conveyor upon which the folded strip is delivered, said conveyor being equipped with an actuating device H which is actuated through the medium of the device Gr.

The trame A may be of any suitable construction. The bed A comprises longitudinal members 7 which are equipped at their inner sides with longitudinal guides 8 which support the plate-actuatin g slide C (see Figs. 7, 8 and 11).

The distributor B is shown as coniprising slides 9 supported on the guide-rods B', the slides 9 being connected by cross-rods 10 which ali'ord a guide for the paper. The connected guides 9 constitute a carriage which is equipped with vertically movable rollers 1l which are adapted to distribute the paper and at the same time perform an ironing action upon it. As appears from Fig. 8, the rollers 11 are ixedly mounted on shafts 11n which Vprojectloosely through bearings 11b with which the carriage is provided, the extremities of the shaft being equipped With small wheels 11c Which travel on tracks 12 having the form shovvn in Fig. 1. The tracks are provided with reduced or lowered portions 12 which are connect-ed by means of inclines 121 with the raised intermediate portions 12. The purpose of this arrangement `is to permit a roller to drop in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5, so that when the carriage begins its reciprocation, the roller will ride upon the paper and fold it closely over the end of the folder-plate. In the remainder of the travel, the rollers lightly engage the paper as it lies upon the plate. performing an ironing action.

The actuating device B2 comprises a rockmember 18 pivotally supported at 11i; a link 15 connecting the member 14 to the carriage B; and a. link 1G connected to a crank-pin 1T carried by a disk, or wheel, 18 which is tixedly mounted on one end of the countershatt E (Figs. 2 and The folder-plate actuator C, as appears from Fig. 11, comprises a pair of slide-bars 19 movable in the guides 8, said slide-bars having their upper portions cutaway, thus affording recesses which accommodate the 4itolder-plates. T he bars 19 are provided near their ends with shoulders 19a adapted to serve as pushers. The bars are further provided at internlediate points with raised portions 19 (Figs. 11 and 12) and on opposite sides or' the portions 19", the bars are equipped with springpressed plungers 19C which are adapted to enter perforations 20 with which the folder-plates are provided near their point ends.

The lateral. portions of the plates are thick ened, as appears from Figs. 7 and 8. The lateral margins of the plates project past the slide-strips 19 and extend over the ledges ali forded by the members 8 oi the fixed guides.

The plates are provided near their ends at their lateral edges with vertical slots 21 which are adapted to engage fixed lugs 22 carried by the bed A. The lugs 22 are spaced from the bottoms and tops ot the guides to permit Withdrawal of the lower plate and then superimposing upon the pile of the first plate.

The actuating means C is shown as comprisingl a beam, or lever, 23 pivotally sup ported at 24 and connected by links with the slide-bars 19; and a connectingrod 2i; joining the intermediate portion ot the member 23 to a crank 27 formed integrally with the countershaft E.

The main drive shaft D may be actuated from any suitable source. For example, the sprocket-chain. D3 for driving the main shaft may be driven from the machine (not shovvn) which effects the longitudinal folding of the strip; and the machine for effecting the longitudinal folding of the strip may, in turn. be driven from the press which prints the forms upon the strip.

The plate-lifter F (Figs. and 9) is in the form of an arm equipped with a roller, the arms being mounted on a rock-shaft 28 which is equipped with an actuating arm 28'l lill) which constitutes part ofthe actuating device F2 (Figs. 2 and 9) connectedbyalink 28" with ,a rock-member 28C which hasone arm connected by means of a link 281 with a lever 28e which has one end pivoted to a stationary support at' 28jf. The intermediate portion of the lever 28e is equippedl with a cam-'roller 28g which engages a cam 28h on the counter-shaft E.

The plate-lifter F is in the form of an arm mounted on a rock-shaft'29 equipped with an actuating arm 29a Which forms a part 4of the actuating device F 3. The arm 29 isconnected by a linl; 29b to a. rock-member 29C which has one arm joined by a link 29d to a lever 29e which is fulcrumed at 29f. The lever 29e is equipped with a Cain-roller 29g which engages a cam 29h with which the counter-shaft E is equipped. A spring 29i connects the member 291 to the frame (Fig. 6) Vand holds the roller 29g against the cam 29h. Y

The means G for temporarily supporting the strip in the position shownin Fig. 5 comprises a pair of arms 30 and 3Q (Figs. 5 and 7) which are carried by rock-shafts 3l which form portions of the vactuating means G. The rock-shafts are equipped with actuating arms 32 which are connected by links 33 (Fics. 2 and 9) with arms 34 iixedly secured to a rock-shaft 35 which is equipped with an actuating arm 36,.connected by a link 37 to a camwactuating lever ,38 which carries a camroller 39 Which engages a cam 40 on the counter-shaft E. The stripsupporting arms 30 and 30L are periodically dropped to permit the strip to drop on the conveyor H, as Will be understood from Fig. 5.

The conveyor H is in the form of an endless conveyor, which, ,asv appears from Fig. -)vprojects laterally from one side of the machine. ,Y The conveyor extends transversely across the machine in-a. plane at a suitable distance belov7 the bed A', and provides a traveling bed upon which the folded portions of the strip drop. The folded strip is thus conveyedlaterally from the machine after being dropped from the folding devices, and may drop `trom the conveyor into a suitable container (not shown). The conveyor comprises parallel belts 4l which are mounted at the discharge-enden suitable bearings' 42, and at the opposite end on a drum 43 (Fig. 9) which has a projecting shaft 44 upon which is secured a sleeve 45 equipped with a ratchetwheel 4G. Journalled upon 'the sleeve is 'an oscillating member 47 equipped With a pawl 48 which engages the ratchet-wheel. The member 4? is actuated Vby a connecting rod 4S which is connected with an actuating arm 4S) which forms an extension of the lever 38', the lever 38 being fulcrumed on a pivot 50. A spring 5l serves to hold the lever 38 against its cam 40. Thus, the device 47 is caused to oscillate and actuate the Wheel46 and thus The paper strip J may be assumed to be composed of several plies. .This strip is brought to the machine over guide-rollers 56 carried by the substructure Alot theV main frame. From one of these guide-rollers, the

strip is fed downwardlyand passes between f' the guides l0' and the distributing rollers 1l,

as Will be understood from Figs. 2 and 5.

The operation of the machine may be described brieiiy. The paper may be introduced between the folder-plates in any suitf2 able manner. Thethreading of the paper between the folder-plates is illustrated in F ig. The folder-plates are provided at their point ends with bevel surfaces 57 and 57a, as 'shown in Fig. 5a. It Will be noted that l' the plates 2 and 4 constitute a pair of plates Working from one end of the machine, while the plates l and 3 constitute a pair of plates Working from the other end of the machine.

It may be assumed that Fig. 5 shows the plate l being Withdrawn from beneath the pile from the position shown in Fig. 2, While the plate-actuator C moves in the directionindicatedl by the arroWinFig. 5a. During this movement, the distributor B moves in the same direction, and the plate 2 acts as a follower-plate. In this movement, the pointed end of the plate 2 is elevated by the lifter F, so that as the actuator C moves to the left, the plate 2 will fall over the paper -ff being distributed and iron it against the underlying plate 3.

As the plate l is Withdrawn during this movement, the plates 3 and 4 drop downwardly, and the lateral notches of the plate 2, coming into registration with the stationary lugs 22, drop down over said lugs and thus the plate 2 is actuated in a central position with reference to the stroke of the plateactuator C.

It may be assumed that the action just described hasbrought the folder-plate 2 tothe superposed position shown in Fig. V1l and has Withdrawn the lowermost folder-plate l from beneath the pile. In the next movement of the actuator to the right, as viewed in Fig. l1, the advance end of the folderplate l Will be lifted 4by the arm F (Fig. 12) and at the conclusion of this movement, the

actuator and folder-plates Will be in the pol13o sition shown in Fig. 5. In the operation of retracting the lowermost folder-plate, the spring-pressed studs 19c engage the perforations near the point end of the folder-plate, as seen in Fig. 12. It will be understood J however, that the plate-lever will nevertheis equipped.

less elevate the point end of the plate in the manner described above. It may be added that sufficient friction and binding action is exerted by the folder-plates upon the strip being folded to cause the strip to be drawn through the distributor B in the operation of the machine.

In the simplified modification illustrated in Figs. 13-15, parts corresponding with previously described parts are similarly designated. In this modification, two folderplates 58 and 59 are employed. These plates are linked to actuating levers 60 which are operated by links 61 connected with cranks 62 operated by mutilated gears 63 of a Geneva movement equipped with co-acting mutilated gears G4 which are actuated by a common shaft 65.

The gears 63 are mounted on shafts 63a which are equipped with cams 63b which serve to actuate plate-lifters 66 through the medium of slides 66 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 14. It will be understood that there is a plate-lifter associated with each of the folder-plates 58 and 59.

Each folder-plate has connected with the lower side of its base end a gripper-member 67 which is mounted on a pivot 67 and .5 equipped with an actuating arm 671. The

arm 67 carries a roller 67C which is ada ted to travel upon a movable cam-arm 68 w ich is adapted to be lifted by means of a slide 69 actuated by a cam 63c with which the gear 63 It will be understood that this mechanism is duplicated at each folder-plate. The gripper 67 is adapted to grip a fold of the strip of paper before the opposed folder is withdrawn, as will be understood from Fig. 13. In Fig. 13, the folder-plate 59 is in a position to follow the distributor B and ride over the folder-plate 58.

It will be understood that the folder-plates are suitably timed in their movements to cause first one and then the other to act as a follower, the other one serving for the time being as a stationary plate over which the moving plate irons the paper as it is laid down by the distributor. As the folder-plate moves to the left, the cam-roller 67C rides upon the lifted cam 68 and swings the gripper 6? down, so that the point of the plate 58 and the folded strip will enter between the gripper and the plate 59. As shown in Fig. 13, a creasing action previously occurred with respect to the plate 58 and its associated gripper 67. Springs 70 (Fig. 15) serve to throw the grippers 67 to the gripping position. Links 71 connect the levers 60 to the folder-plates. In the modification, the conveyor is designated H2. It may be of any suitable form and operated in any desired manner. In each construction described, the strip passes downwardly through a distributor and through what may be termed a well in the frame; and in its passage, the strip is engaged by opposed folder-plates which act alternately as stationary supportingplates. In the first described construction, the folder-plates are loosely and shiftably mounted in a sliding actuator, while in the second described construction the folderplates are attached to independently movable actuators. In each construction, the folded strip drops upon a conveyor, preferably. The conveyor has a step by step movement and carries the portions of the strip from beneath the locality of the folder-plates as the operation proceeds.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

lVhat we regard as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character set forth, opposed reciprocable folder-plates, and means for actuating said plates and bringing them alternately into superimposed position.

2. In a machine of the character set forth: a frame equipped with guides and having a well or opening therethrough; liftable, reciprocating folder-plates mounted in said guides; and means for conducting a strip of material to said folder-plates.

3. In combination: opposed reciprocating folder-plates; and a reciprocating web-distributor associated therewith.

4. In combination: opposed reciprocable folder-plates; means for reciprocating said plates and effecting alternate tilting of the plates; and means for conducting a web to said plates.

5. In combination: opposed reciprocable folder-plates; means for reciprocating said plates and effecting alternate lifting of the plates; means for conducting a web to said plates; and means for collecting the folded portions of the web as they drop from the folder-plates.

6. In combination: a frame provided with guides; folder-plates movably mounted on said guides; means for reciprocating said plates and bringing them alternately into superposed position; means for Conducting a web to the folder-plates; and a conveyor disposed beneath the folder-plates.

7. In combination: opposed reciprocating folder-plates; periodically actuated lifters associated with said plates; and means for conducting a web to said folder-plates.

8. In combination: opposed reciprocable folder-plates; means for reciprocating said plates and elevating them in alternation; and a distributor comprising a carriage equipped with rollers co-acting withthe uppermost folder-plate.

9. In combination: a frame equipped with a guide; a sliding plate-actuator mounted therein; and pairs of opposed shiftable folder-plates mounted in said actuator.

10. A machine as specified in claim 9 in which the guide is equipped with means for holding certain of said folder-plates temporarily in centered position where they act for the time being as stationary plates.

11. A machine as specified in claim 9 in which the guide is equipped with means for holding certain of said folder-plates temporarily in centered position and the actuator is equipped with means for withdrawing the lowermost plate and has associated therewith a. lifter whereby the plates may be brought successively into position over the center plates.

12. In combination: a frame provided with a guide; an actuator reciprocating in said guide; pairs of opposed folder-plates mounted in said actuator, the actuator being of sufficient length to admit plates in end to end relation; means for centering certain of said plates with reference to said guide; and lifters associated with said actuator and co-acting with the actuator to bring the plates, in succession, into superposed position above the centered plates.

13. A machine as specified in claim 12 in which the guide is equipped with short centering lugs and the plates are equipped with co-acting lateral notches, spaces being provided in the guides above and below said lugs to permit passage of the uppermost and lowermost plates to and from the centered position.

14. A machine as specified in claim 12 in which the plates and guide are provided with co-acting lugs and notches for temporarily holding the plates in centered position; and springs associated with said guides adapted to press downwardly upon the plates.

15. A machine as specified in claim 12 in which the actuator is equipped with springheld plungers and the plates are provided near their point ends with recesses co-acting with said plungers.

16. In combination: opposed reciprocating folder-plates; a reciprocating Web-distributor over said plates; and an intermittently retracted web-support beneath said plates.

17 In combination: opposed reciprocating .folder-plates; a reciprocating web-distributor over said plates; an intermittently retracted Web-support beneath said plates; and an endless conveyor beneath said web-support.

18. In combination: a frame provided with a guide; a transverse conveyor below the plane of said guide; opposed folderplates reciprocable in said guide; means for reciprocating said plates andbringing them, in alternation, to superposed position; and means for conducting a web to said folderplates.

19. In combination: opposed reciprocable folder-plates; means for reciprocating said plates and bringing them alternately into superposed position; and a co-acting reciprocating carriage equipped with movably mounted distributing and ironing members.

20. In combination: opposed reciprocable folder-plates; means for reciprocating said plates and bringing them alternately into superposed position; a co-acting reciprocating carriage equipped with movably mounted distributing and ironing members; and tracks having depressed end-portions permitting the ironing members to co-act with the point ends of the folder-plates.

2l. In combination: a frame provided with a well; reciprocating folder-plates operating over said well; and web-distributing means reciprocating over said well above said folder-plates.

22. The method of folding a web, which comprises: distributing the web back and forth over a plurality of folders, and successively bringing the folders into superposed position to permit the web to be folded thereover.

23. The method of folding a web, which comprises: distributing the web back and forth over a stack of folders, and successively bringing the folders into superposed position alternately from opposite sides of the stack tov permit the web to be folded thereover.

LOUIS JENSEN. CHARLES WINTERS. 

